Fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE) is a natural compound derived from fermentation of wheat germ. FWGE is a promising anticancer compound that can be integrated into or improve the current treatment of cancer. It is widely used in cancer treatment as it has been found to protect healthy cells from radiation and starve cancer cells of their nutrition. Research shows that various types of cancer cells treated with FWGE have responded with cytotoxic effects, alteration of the cell cycle, antiproliferative effects, and induction of apoptosis (cancer cell death).[i] There are clinical studies and proof of FWGE’s chemotherapy and radiotherapy support. Notably, Metatrol® is the only gluten-free FWGE, and is the most potent, concentrated formula on the market.
Dr Mitch Gaynor, my integrative oncologist, introduced me to FWGE (AveUltra) when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. This was for its anticancer benefits and for my low white blood cell count (I was not doing chemo or radiation, but the goal was to support my immune system). The original formula wasn’t too pleasant as it was a powder you had to mix with water, so I didn’t stay on it long. But Metatrol® is easy, just two pills a day. I started on it a few months ago when I noticed my white blood cell count had dropped. A month later it was up nicely. Many of my clients have had their doctors recommend this either during conventional treatments or as part of a holistic protocol.
One of the detrimental effects of chemo and radiation is the destruction of the immune system. Chemo reduces the number of infection-fighting white blood cells which makes it harder for your body to fight infections and eliminate cancer cells.[ii] Radiotherapy can damage your body’s lymphatic system, which is a network of channels and glands that form part of your immune system.
When your body has very low levels of white blood cells (and particularly neutrophils), this increases your risk of getting an infection. This common side effect of chemo is called neutropenia, and even a minor infection can become very serious. It could become life-threatening within hours (as can be the case with sepsis).[iii] Importantly, after chemo and or radiation, your immune system can stay suppressed for several months.
Research indicates that taking FWGE once or twice a day while undergoing chemotherapy may help reduce the risk of death and may help prevent cancer from becoming worse or spreading compared to chemo alone.[iv] See also the dosage of two capsules daily in the studies below. As it can take anywhere from weeks to months after cancer treatments are over for you to get a healthy immune response back, further immune support is likely a very good idea.
Caution: FWGE extract can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, intentionally decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking FWGE along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications. Be sure to speak with your doctor about FWGE if you are on any type of immunosuppressive therapy.
Supporting Research:
Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of conventional cancer treatment, but it can also induce immune suppression, which can have significant implications for patient outcomes. This review paper aims to give a general overview of how chemotherapy affects the immune system and how it affects cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can directly affect immune cells, leading to cytotoxic effects, cell differentiation and function alterations, and cell communication and signaling pathways disruptions. Such immune suppression can weaken the anti-tumor immune response and increase the risk of immune-related toxicities. Understanding the mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced immune suppression is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies. Strategies to mitigate immune suppression include immunomodulatory agents as adjuvants to chemotherapy, combination therapies to enhance immune function, and supportive care measures of the immune system. Additionally, identifying potential biomarkers to predict immune suppression and guide treatment decisions holds promise for personalized cancer medicine. Future directions in this field involve further elucidating underlying mechanisms, exploring novel combination therapies, and developing targeted interventions to minimize immune suppression. By understanding and addressing chemotherapy-induced immune suppression, we can optimize cancer treatment strategies, enhance the anti-tumor immune response, and improve patient outcomes. [v]
Fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE; trade name AVEMAR) is a natural compound derived from industrial fermentation of wheat germ. Its potential anticancer properties have emerged from recent studies. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the data available in the scientific literature concerning the in vitro activity of FWGE on malignant cells. A systematic review of English articles in electronic databases has been performed. The primary outcomes of the review regarded types of cancer cell lines subjected to the investigation and the main results concerning cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis observed within the studies. Sixteen articles were included in the final qualitative analysis. Various types of cancer cells treated with FWGE have been analyzed, showing mainly cytotoxic effects, alteration of the cell cycle, antiproliferative effects, and induction of apoptosis (cancer cell death). [vi]
The information and studies below on FWGE were provided by American BioSciences.
Always speak with your medical professional before taking any supplements.
METATROL®, GLUTEN-FREE, FERMENTED WHEAT GERM EXTRACT SUPER CONCENTRATE. In 2004, American BioSciences started distributing the Hungarian Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE) Avemar® under the brand name Ave’®, and began a collaboration with Dr. Mate Hidvegi, who asked our company to invest in new manufacturing technology to make a more potent dietary supplement product. We set up factories in the U.S. and Germany, to make our Ave’Ultra® product (also sold under the brand name Oncomar® by Xymogen), which provided the same amount of FWGE active molecules, but reduced the daily dose by more than 50%. We continued our research and development, which enabled us to further concentrate the biologically beneficial molecules from FWGE. Using a patented process, we now manufacture a gluten-free Fermented Wheat Germ Extract-Super Concentrate (FWGE-SC®), which we market under the brand names Metatrol® and Metatrol PRO®.
Research on FWGE is extensive. Close to 60 articles in medical journals describing hundreds of studies in cell lines and with animal and human subjects can be found via the National Library of Medicine HERE and the full text of most can be found via www.fwgeresearch.org.
These show that FWGE helps regulate cell metabolism,* inhibits non-oxidative glucose metabolism,* enhances oxidative glucose metabolism,* and supports many mechanisms of immune system regulation.* This article from the New York Academy of Sciences is a good review:
The most recent paper, results of a multi-year collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Lab on a lab scale version of Metatrol /Metatrol PRO FWGE-SC®, known by the experimental name, A250, was published in Nature Scientific Reports: Bencze, G., Bencze, S., Rivera, K.D. et al. Mito-oncology agent: fermented extract suppresses the Warburg effect, restores oxidative mitochondrial activity, and inhibits in vivo tumor growth. Sci Rep 10, 14174 (2020). Abstract below.
“Abstract: Mitochondrial dysfunction and significant changes in metabolic pathways accompany cancer development and are responsible for maintaining the tumor micro-environment. Normal mitochondria can trigger intrinsic apoptosis by releasing cytochrome c into the cytosol. The survival of malignant cells highly depends on the suppression of this function. We validated that A250, a highly purified fraction of fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE), increases the carbon flux into the mitochondria, the expression of key elements of the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The increased respiratory chain activity is related to the mitochondria’s ability to release cytochrome c into the cytosol, which triggers the apoptotic cascade. The 68% tumor growth inhibitory effect observed in the murine melanoma study is related to this effect, as proteomic analysis validated similar changes in mitochondrial protein levels in the isolated tumor tissue samples. Blood count data indicated that this effect was not accompanied by general toxicity. This study is significant, as it shows that a highly concentrated form of FWGE is an effective agent that increases normal mitochondrial functionality. The lack of hepatotoxic and general toxic effects makes A250 an excellent candidate targeting mitochondria function in cancer therapy.”
Our research with Cold Spring Harbor Lab utilized a process known as “bio-assay guided fractionation,” where we attempted to identify which of the 10,000 or so molecules in FWGE/Avemar account for its biological activity. In the end, we did not find one single molecule that accounts for FWGE/Avemar’s health benefits, but we did isolate the “bio-active fraction” of approximately 100 molecules, referred to as “A250” in research, which is found in Metatrol Pro, and we have established that 41 mg of this fraction, found in 2 Metatrol PRO capsules, is bio-equivalent with 5,500 mg of whole FWGE/Avemar.
We developed a patented technology (2 patents granted this year) to manufacture a gluten-free, bioactive FWGE fraction, which we now call FWGE-SC®, which in the powder form, FWGE-SCP is the ingredient in Metatrol. Assays show that 2 Metatrol capsules, containing 41 mg of FWGE-SC, or 830 mg of FWGE-SCP is bioequivalent with 5,500 mg of whole FWGE, the dose used in clinical trials. For additional information visit The Harmony Company.
American BioSciences was established in 1999, and is involved in research, manufacturing, and marketing of dietary supplements. They have collaborated with leading medical researchers in the US and abroad, and our products contain ingredients which have been extensively studied to show safety and health benefits. Their dietary supplements are sold via many health food stores and pharmacies, Amazon.com, and direct to consumer distributors such as The Harmony Company.
I am not affiliated with The Harmony Company nor American BioSciences. This is not a paid-for article. I simply enjoy sharing educational support for cancer patients. I recommend only supplements I value and take myself.
You can purchase Metatrol directly from The Harmony Company or via Amazon as well as from practitioners.
In your everlasting good health,
Elyn
~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~
Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor and holistic cancer strategist who helps people make healthier, less-toxic choices for their healing. She emphasizes the importance of not just surviving cancer but surviving well and reducing the risk of recurrence. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn has written for numerous journals and publications. She was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation and the creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show. To contact Elyn, visit www.elynjacobs.com. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone, or in-person. Elyn does not provide online advice.
DISCLAIMER:
Elyn Jacobs does not provide medical advice. The information provided is for general information only. No online site should be used as a substitute for personal medical attention.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to forgo medical advice and treatment. This post is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. This post does not represent medical advice, nor should it be considered to be medical advice or a replacement for medical advice. I encourage you to discuss this information with your integrative oncologist, naturopathic doctor, or conventional oncologist. The information provided is from my research and not to be taken as scientific evidence. Elyn Jacobs Consulting, Inc. does not provide endorsement for the content, claims, or products discussed in this article.
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[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213720/
[ii] https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/sepsis-cancer/index.html
[iii] https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/sepsis#:~:text=This%20is%20most%20common%20if,become%20life%2Dthreatening%20within%20hours.
[iv] https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/fermented_wheat_germ_extract.htm#:~:text=and%20rectal%20cancer.-,Early%20research%20shows%20that%20taking%20a%20specific%20fermented%20wheat%20germ,spreading%20compared%20to%20chemotherapy%20alone.
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